Combined sticky fly-paper holder and trap



(No Model.)

0. & W. THUMA. COMBINED STICKY FLY PAPER HOLDER AND TRAP.

No. 393,273. Patented Nov. 20,1888.

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UNITED STATES PATENT trier).

OTTO THUM AND \VILLIAM THUM, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

COMBINED STICKY FLY=PAPER HOLDER AND TRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 393,273, dated November 20, 1888.

Application tiled September 20, 1888. Serial No. 285,953.

.To aZ/I whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, OTTO THUM and WIL- LIAM THUM, of Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in a Combined Sticky Fly-Paper Holder and Trap; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

Heretofore in the use of fly-paper, as it has been made by coating one side of a flexible sheet of paper with a sticky substance which catches the flies, a number of disadvantages have been met with, more or less objectionable; and it is the object of our present invention to remove these objections and at the same time to increase the efficiency of the liy-paper as a trap to attract and catch the flies. As the flypaper is composed of thin sheets and flexible, they are liable to be blown about by the slightest draft, and as ordinarily used the sheets are simply laid about on convenient surfaces,and thus are susceptible to drafts of air. As the sticky material is very adhesive, it will thus smear and adhere to any surface or article of furniture upon which it may be blown by the wind. Another objection is that as the edges of the paper are free from the material and the central portion only covered, the paper has a tendency to curl up at the edges,whieh thus lessens the exposed sticky surface. Further, it has disadvantages as a trap for the reason thatthe flies in approaching the sticky material from the unsmeared margins of the sheets enter into it cautiously and can disentangle themselvesif they only get into it a little way; and we have found from observation that many flies approach the sticky surface from the margins. lo overcome all these objections and to provide a more convenient way of placing the material of the fly-paper than by carrying it in the hand, which is liable to smear the fingers and get upon the person of the one who is carrying it, we have provided a holder, which, by reason of its novel construction, is adapted to be placed in many positions where the loose sheets cannot be placed. It holds the paper firmly by its edges and prevents it from being turned over or blown away. It prevents the curling up of the edges. It serves as a guard to prevent contact with persons who may inadvertently be near it. It lessens (No model.)

combines the advantages of a trap, as it hiuders the flies from approaching from the margin, the construction rendering it necessary for them to fly directly upon the surface in order to ascertain its nature, as none of the unsmeared portion of the paper appears within sight; and again, when the flies have once been caught upon the surface they will not turn toward the clean border to escape, by reason of the fact that the holder is provided with an overlapping rim above the sticky surface, and this makes a darkness around the edge of the paper which .repels instead of attracts the flies, and they will thus struggle toward the center, and thus get deeper into the sticky material.

Our invention therefore consists of a combined holder and trap provided with asupport for the sticky fly-paper and a rim covering the edges of the paper whenin place but rising above the surface thereof.

Further, the invention consists of a com bined holder and trap having a support for the sticky ilypaper and a rim for holding the edges of the paper, said rim being inclined upwardly on all sides to conceal the edges of the paper and above the surface thereof, the central part of the holder being open to expose the sticky surface of the paper to the flies.

Further, our invention consists in a support for the sticky fly-paper, a rim for holding the edges of the paper extending upwardly and inwardly to conceal the margins and to be above the surface of the paper, a central opening in the holder, and a cover for said opening.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of our improved holder and trap with a sheet of paper in place. Fig. 2 shows it covered. Fig. 3 is a section showing the construction of the rim.

In the drawings, A represents the supporting-plate, upon which the sheet of paper containing the sticky material is placed with the covered surface uppermost. Hinged to this supporting-plate is a rim, B which has upon its under face a rectangular Irame, a, of suitable width, which, when in place upon the sheet of fly-paper, presses its edges against the bottom plate, A, and thus holds it securely in place. It will be understood that all flypaper is made with a margin which is not covered by the sticky material, and the frame a bears upon this margin, so that it never becomes smeared with the material. The rim B extends upwardly and inwardly from the frame a, the sides of the rim being of a width sufficient to entirely conceal from view the unsmeared edge of the paper, and by reason of its elevation it is above the surface of the paper to the extent of about half an inch. \Vc have found about an inch and a half to be the proper width for the rim. This covers up the uncovered portions of the sheet and shows only the sticky surface. \Vhen the sticky paper is placed in position and the rim B placed upon it, the rim may be held in place, so as to prevent any displacement of the paper, by any suitable kind of clasp or fastening device fastening the edges of the rim and base-plate together. \Ve have simply shown perforations through the rim and base-plate, and they may be secured together by means of a string or ribbon.

Itwill be seen by reason of its construction that all the disznlvantages enumerated of thesimple sheets heretofore used are obviated, and the sheetis held securely within the holder,whieh gives it a neat appearance and enables it to be used anywhere with perfect safety and without liability of smearing, even should it be turned over. It forms, also, as we have before mentioned, a perfect trap, as the flies cannot approach the sticky surface except by crawling up the inclined rim, and we make this rim preferably of approximately the same color as the sticky surface, and varnish with a hard drying and shining varnish, so that the flies are led to believe that the sticky surface is only a continuation of the material of the rim. As the rim is a half-inch above the surface, they cannot approach to investigate, but must ll y directlyupon it. They will not drag themselves toward the unsmcared portions for the reason that the rim covering said portions makes it dark along the edges, and thenatural tendency of the fly is to struggle out toward the center, and thus few escape. When the holder with the sticky sheet is not in use, an ordinary cover, 0, is placed over the top, and this retards the drying action and keeps it moist for a great length of time. Then in use, the cover may simply be removed from the top and serve as a shallow tray to receive the holder.

\Ve are aware that it is not new to provide a fly-trap in two parts fitted to fold over upon themselves, and provided between the parts with open-work material covered with sticky substance.

\Vc claim as our invention- 1. A combined holder and trap consisting of a support for the fly-paper and an open frame or holding-rim above the paper, the said rim being inclined inwardly and upwardly, substantially as described.

2. A holder for ily-paper, consisting of a baseplate to support the paper, a hinged open frame or rim for clamping the paper to the base-plate, said rim extending inwardly and upwardly, so that its inner edge is above the fly-paper, substantially as described.

3. A combined holder and trap consisting ofa base-plate, a rim inclined inwardly and upwardly, having its inner edges above the surface of the fly-paper, said rim beinghinged to the base-plate, and a cover for the holder, substantially as described.

4. A combined holder and trap consisting of the base-plate and rim. hinged thereto having a clamping-frame, a, and a fastening for holding the rim and base-plate together, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

OTTO THUM. W ILLTA'M Tl U M \Vi tnesses:

FRANK Sunnwc n, \V I Ll'jlAM B ART l r. 

